Zhao Hanzhang pointed at Hedong Jun and Henan Jun, saying, “Aren’t parts of Hedong Jun and Henan Jun still in Xiongnu hands? Have Beigong Chun and Erlang mobilize troops to reclaim all these places. Transfer some additional forces from Yuzhou. Once these lost territories are recovered, station the army outside Pingyang Jun.”
Fu Tinghan also finished reading the letter and walked to the map. After looking at it for a while, he asked, “Then what about Hongnong Jun and Fengyi Jun?”
Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes flashed. She turned to glance at him and said, “Attack them all together. If we want to contain the Xiongnu forces and make them wary, naturally the more places we attack, the better. But be careful, maintain proper measure, so as not to cause Shi Lei to send troops to the king’s aid.”
Ji Yuan frowned, “Will our forces be sufficient?”
Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze fell on Chang’an. “Write to Chang’an. It’s been a year now, and Grandfather Fu’s recruited soldiers should be put to use. Haven’t they been suffering from famine in Chang’an? Expanding outward and conquering the occupied areas of Fengyi Jun might resolve their urgent need.”
The areas of Fengyi Jun and Hongnong Jun occupied by the Xiongnu weren’t extensive, especially Hongnong Jun. The currently marked red territories weren’t conquered by the Xiongnu through battle, but rather were surrendered to the Xiongnu by local officials and aristocratic families when the Xiongnu attacked Luoyang, thus being classified within the Xiongnu sphere of influence.
Several counties in Fengyi Jun were in the same situation.
Zhao Hanzhang was too lazy to further distinguish between enemy and ally. Now that Luoyang’s situation had stabilized, she could expand her operations elsewhere.
Therefore, she wanted to take all these territories, continue gathering refugees, clearing wasteland, farming, and accumulating grain supplies.
Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan wrote to Fu Zhi together. As soon as the letter was sent, they mobilized their troops.
Beigong Chun and Zhao Erlang received orders to march toward certain counties in Hedong Jun and Henan Jun. Chen Wu watched with envy and ran to find Zhao Hanzhang, expressing that he too was willing to serve like a loyal dog or horse.
Zhao Hanzhang immediately sent him to Hongnong Jun to take over those two surrendered counties. As for those that hadn’t surrendered, if he passed by them, he should conveniently drop in for a visit and ask whether they were willing to follow her orders. If willing, everyone would be happy. If unwilling, he should write back to inform her, and she would send someone to investigate whether they had fulfilled their duties or committed any crimes, then find an excuse to replace the county magistrate.
Chen Wu hadn’t expected Zhao Hanzhang to speak so bluntly, both roguish and completely above board. After being stunned for quite a while, he nodded and patted his chest, saying, “Inspector, rest assured, this subordinate will definitely take all these places for you.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded, “Control your soldiers well, maintain strict military discipline, and do not infringe upon the common people along the way. As for the rest, act as you see fit.”
Do whatever is convenient.
Chen Wu received his orders and ran off happily.
No one had expected Zhao Hanzhang would send troops as the year’s end approached. Liu Cong’s great army had just besieged Jinyang when news from the south arrived one after another.
“Zhao Hanzhang has deployed eighty thousand troops and successively taken Yishi, Jie County, Eyang, Xiayang, and ten other counties. Fu Zhi from Chang’an has deployed twenty thousand troops and is also attacking Fengyi Jun, advancing toward our Pingyang. His Majesty has ordered the Great General to withdraw and return to the capital to defend against Zhao Hanzhang.”
Liu Cong’s expression changed dramatically. He asked, “What about the others? Are they all idiots?”
“General Liu Qin and General Liu Yao have both sent troops to resist, but the opposing commander is Beigong Chun, and a new young general has emerged from the Zhao family army. I hear he’s Zhao Hanzhang’s younger brother, and he too is extraordinarily brave. In three engagements, we failed to defeat them. Moreover, there are more Han people in Hedong Jun and Fengyi Jun. In some cities, even before the enemy army arrived, the people inside had already raised a clamor, and those county officials opened the gates to surrender.”
Liu Cong ground his teeth in hatred. “Fence-sitters naturally sway left and right. When they surrendered to our Great Han, I said to kill them, but Father insisted it would chill people’s hearts and wouldn’t permit killing those who surrendered. Now look what’s happened—they could surrender to us, so naturally they can surrender to Zhao Hanzhang. We’ve lost our cities for nothing!”
At this time, someone was also suggesting to Zhao Hanzhang that she kill these officials and generals who had surrendered, with exactly the same reasoning as Liu Cong.
“Yesterday they surrendered to the Xiongnu because the Xiongnu forces were powerful. Today they surrender to us because our military strength is formidable. How do we know that tomorrow they won’t again bring their cities and surrender to others?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “They previously surrendered to the Xiongnu to protect the common people in their cities from slaughter. They are loyal and righteous men. How can we speculate so maliciously about them?”
With a righteous expression and serious demeanor, she declared, “This time they have merit in offering their cities. Invite them to return to Luoyang. I want to reward them handsomely!”
The generals and officials who had proposed beheading them instantly erupted, “And reward them handsomely?”
Ming Yu, who had also proposed beheading them, swallowed his words and instead asked, “How does the Inspector plan to reward them?”
“Luoyang lacks officials. They have talent and knowledge. Besides rewarding them with fields and residences, naturally we should select suitable positions for them.”
Ming Yu nodded in agreement and asked, “Where will the new county magistrates be selected from?”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly at him and said, “All of you may recommend candidates to me, and I’ll select those with outstanding virtue and talent to serve.”
Only then did the others realize—this was about transferring people back and replacing them with their own people, so they wouldn’t worry about them surrendering to others again.
But…
“Will they obey? Previously, even the Xiongnu Han State didn’t replace them.”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “Since you all suspect they might betray their masters again and again, wouldn’t they fear your suspicions?”
So they would definitely obey.
Zhao Hanzhang’s guess was correct. When she summoned these county magistrates and generals to Luoyang, though they hesitated and felt apprehensive, they still came.
Zhao Hanzhang received them courteously, even meeting them personally, rewarding them with fields and residences, and appointing them to positions in the Inspector’s Office.
When the news spread, some officials and generals who had been delaying and refusing to go to Luoyang immediately packed their belongings, brought their families to Luoyang, and also accepted Zhao Hanzhang’s official appointments.
And some former Jin officials who had been hesitating, afraid to surrender, seeing that Xiongnu Han State officials immediately opened their gates, followed suit and surrendered as well.
The Zhao family army swept through with devastating momentum, recovering most of Sizhou. Henan Jun, Hedong Jun, most of Fengyi Jun, and parts of Hongnong Jun all fell into Zhao Hanzhang’s grasp.
When the news reached Yuncheng, the court was still engaged in back-and-forth wrangling over the Jizhou Inspector position. Upon hearing that Zhao Hanzhang controlled most of Sizhou, the Emperor couldn’t even sit steady on his throne, his buttocks trembling.
He couldn’t afford to worry about Wang Jun and Liu Kun’s dispute anymore. He privately retained Zhao Zhongyu to ask him, “Minister Zhao, does Minister Zhao wish to emulate Uncle Liu and divide the land with me to rule?”
Zhao Zhongyu hurriedly explained on Zhao Hanzhang’s behalf, “Your Majesty, Zhao Hanzhang has absolutely no disloyal intentions. This is to help Liu Kun contain the Xiongnu and force Liu Cong to withdraw his troops. If you don’t believe me, just wait a while and see whether Liu Cong withdraws his forces.”
The Emperor’s heart remained uneasy. He said, “Minister Zhao is already Inspector of Yuzhou, and Sizhou and Yuzhou are the center of the realm. If she also takes Sizhou and occupies it, then of the nine provinces under heaven, two entire provinces belong to her alone—that’s the center of all under heaven.”
The so-called competition for the Central Plains referred to the areas of Yuzhou and Sizhou. The most crucial territories were all occupied by Zhao Hanzhang, yet he, the Emperor, was hiding in a corner. What kind of situation was this?
—